The Romulus man charged with murder for the deaths of a Farmington Hills couple in a wrong-way traffic crash will be evaluated for competency, as requested by his attorney.
At a hearing Wednesday afternoon in 46th District Court, Judge Shelia Johnson ordered the evaluation for Angel Melendez-Ortiz, 35, and set a tentative date of April 18 to review results in court.
While before the judge, Melendez-Ortiz spoke only to identify himself and acknowledge that he understood the charges against him.
The charges include two counts each of second-degree murder, first-degree fleeing and eluding, reckless driving causing death, and driving while license suspended/revoked causing death for the Jan. 6 crash that resulted in the deaths of Ryan and Jennifer Ambrosio of Farmington Hills.
The Ambrosios were the parents of six young children.
As previously reported by The Oakland Press, Melendez-Ortiz is no stranger to the criminal justice system.
Court records show he has unresolved criminal charges in 34th District Court in Romulus for armed robbery in 2023 and in Oakland County Circuit Court for a drug charge out of Farmington Hills in 2020. In both cases, he skipped out on court appearances and forfeited bond, and a bench warrant was issued.
For his most recent charges, prosecutors say Melendez-Ortiz was speeding in a stolen pickup truck — driving the wrong way on M-10 with the lights off while being pursued by Michigan State Police — when he crashed into the Ambrosios’ GMC Terrain in Southfield. The Ambrosios were pronounced dead at the scene.
Melendez-Ortiz is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $1.5 million.
Outside noise can be issue, but Dan Campbell has faith Lions won’t crumble under pressure
How ‘Masters of the Air’ tells the stories of real-life WWII bomber crews
Winter festivals aim to get people outside, enjoy icy attractions